CoolerMaster Hyper TX3 Review

Introduction:

The one thing you need if you plan on pushing the clock speeds on your processor is a replacement for that stock cooling solution. The stock solutions are good for what they originally designed for. To keep the processor alive and working within the thermal boundaries created when the die was designed. No surprise there as for the most part they work as intended but leave a lot to be desired when you actually pay attention to the temperatures. The comfort factor is not there at stock clock seeds much less at overclocked speeds. When you raise the voltage well the end result is a failure. At this point its time to look for a new cooling solution for your new processor to give you that warm and fuzzy feeling back. Intel just released its new Core i5 socket 1156 processors. With this release many of the old heatsinks just don't have the capability of being adapted or the manufacturers have not put together an adapter to make them work with the new socket. Why a new heatsink when I could use my old one? Well the mounting hole dimensions have changed as normally happens with a new socket. Socket 775 has a 75mm spacing while socket 1366 uses an 80mm spacing, so if you have not guessed socket 1156 falls right in between at 77mm. Enough of a distance change to make adapting anything but a bolt on sink a custom affair.

CoolerMaster had this difference in mind when they put together the Hyper TX3 heatsink. It features the ability to be used on multiple sockets including socket 775 and 1156 for Intel and socket AM2/AM3 for AMD. This heatsink features 3 heatpipes in a direct contact configuration that reach up to an aluminum fin array that houses a 92mm fan. Will its smallish size be hindrance to cooling performance or will it fit the bill and deliver better than stock performance at an affordable price? Both questions I intend to answer.

Closer Look:

The CoolerMaster Hyper TX3 is delivered in full retail regalia just as you would find it at at any computer hardware store. The Hyper TX3 is contained in a blister pack that shows off the front and rear facades of the cooler. The front also shows that this cooler is socket 1156 compatible along with the attributes on the left hand side. The rear side shows the compatible socket types while the bottom lists the features in lettering that my older eyes just can't read.

When you pull the contents out of the packaging you are left with the Hyper TX3, the 92mm fan and the box that contains the socket mounting hardware, the instructions, thermal paste along with the fan brackets. Simple, straight forward and functional!